Review

59% of attendees were new this year. Despite the continuing uncertainty about the economy and clear signs that the industry has contracted significantly since 2008, the general mood was more upbeat than in 2009, hopefully signalling that the worst is finally behind us!

What buyers most value – and this is echoed in most of the feedback comments we received – is the personal contact that this event affords, something that has been largely lost in our Internet-centred work lives. A close second is the inspiration the event provides, from the variety of imagery on show to the topical sessions. It was clear that footage is starting to become mainstream, a trend that we fully intend to encourage.

For the sellers, the greatest value is in being able to hold the attention of potential clients long enough to really explain what they have to offer, something that is almost impossible via any other marketing channel these days. It’s not just being seen, it’s being heard too that makes this event so effective.

This is a breakdown by market sector of the registrants:

Prize winners

We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s sponsored prize drawing:

Prize sponsor

Winner

V&A

Tracey Woods, Essence Magazine

Trunk Archive

Sheryl Checkman, Checkman Design Inc

Steve Bloom Images

Liaht Pashayan, OUP

Robert Harding World Imagery

Lora Morgenstern, TICS

Pond5.com

Nicole Powdar, Prudential Advertising

Photo Researchers Inc

Michelle Bernstein, Grey Healthcare

National Geographic Stock

Erin Giunta, INK Publishing

MFA

Lisa Gee, John Wiley & Sons Inc

Map Resources

Sylvia Johnson, ABC News

Lonely Planet Images

Tyler Nevins, Disney Publishing

License Stream

Penny Chuang, Adventium

Lebrecht Music & Arts Photo Library

Erica Mellow, Sapient Nitro

Kimball Stock

Kelley Miller, National Geographic Kids

Image Source

Angela Lewis Reid, Draftfcb Healthcare

Grant Heilman Photography Inc

Christine Buege, WHF/Worth

Fotolia

Nayon Cho, Farrar Straus & Giroux

Art Resource

John Holonitch, McGraw- Hill

AP Images

Randi Silberman, IEEE Spectrum

Alamy

Belina Huey, Random House

Age Fotostock

Carrin Ackerman, Weekly Reader

And the winner of our $500 referral prize drawing is Lisa Ocasio of
Hearst Digital Media.

“Visual Connections gave me a clearer idea of the upcoming trends is imagery - ranging from stock photos, to footage to animation. I am just learning about stock footage and and the 2:30 session totally inspired me. It was totally worth the time and the trip up from DC!”

“
At one point, I remember I felt so good about the show that I thought to myself ... this is a good place to be today, there are no problems in the world at the moment...and how can the economy be so bad? There really were good vibrations last Wednesday at 125 West 18th Street.
”